Pittsburgh's biggest high school hackathonMarch 2 @ Fox Chapel Area High School

Details

What?

FCHacks is a hackathon for high schoolers in the Pittsburgh region. A hackathon is a competition during which students who are interested in exploring computer science or engineering team up and build cool projects (apps, games, robots, or whatever they're excited about). FCHacks is open to students with a variety of skill levels—no prior knowledge or experience needed. All participants will have access to mentors and materials, and will have a chance to pitch to sponsors and judges and win prizes; beginners will also be provided with computers, workshops, and special prizes.

When?

FCHacks is a 12-hour hackathon, from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM, on Saturday, March 2, 2019. We'll have an opening speaker, around 10 hours of dedicated time for students to work on their projects (and eat—lunch and snacks are provided!), and a science-fair style expo presentation, award ceremony, and closing speaker at the end of the event.

Where?

FCHacks will take place at Fox Chapel Area High School, about 20 minutes outside of the City of Pittsburgh.

Check out highlights of the previous FCHacks to see what to expect this year!

FAQ

What generally happens at a hackathon?

During a hackathon, participants ("hackers") work in teams of up to 4 to build projects ("hacks") from scratch. These projects can be pretty much anything—apps, games, robots, websites, or anything else you can dream up!

What do people usually make?

There are very few limits on what you can build, but here are some examples of what people have made at other hackathons. Keep in mind that almost all of these projects were created by college students during longer events (typically 36 hours)—your projects at FCHacks do not have to be this elaborate!

Isn't hacking illegal?

In this context, "hacking" means quickly and cleverly building a piece of hardware or software from scratch. This is completely different from illegal hacking, which involves gaining unauthorized access to a computer system.

Do I need to have a team or an idea?

Not at all! You're welcome to start brainstorming or forming a team ahead of time, but this is certainly not required—we'll have dedicated time at the event for you to find a team and come up with an idea.

What can I win?

We'll have several prizes at the event, including overall prizes (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and prizes for hacks in specific areas. We'll also have a special prize specifically for beginners.

Who can attend?

FCHacks is open to all high school students. If you're younger, email us and we'll see what we can do. If you're older, please consider registering as a mentor or volunteer instead.

How much does it cost to attend?

Absolutely nothing! FCHacks is completely free to attend, and, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we'll also have lunch and snacks provided throughout the day, as well as materials for you to work with.

What resources will be available for me?

We'll have mentors available to help you with various aspects of your project, like iPhone app development or circuit design, as well as optional workshops centered around specific topics, like pitching your project to the judges. We'll also have materials for hardware hackers (think Arduino boards, 3D printers, and soldering irons) and extra resources for beginners (see → for details).

What if I've never coded before?

No problem! One of our main goals is to provide an opportunity for students with little exposure to computer science to see how fun and powerful it can be. If you're a beginner, we'll have intensive introductory workshops teaching you how to code something from scratch, and we'll even provide you with a laptop pre-loaded with the tools you need. We'll also award a special "Best Beginner Project" prize at the end of the event.

What should I bring?

All you need to bring is a student ID, a laptop (if you don't have one, let us know and we'll see what we can do), physical materials (if you think you'll need them for a hardware hack), and an open mind!

How do I sign up?

You can register for FCHacks as a participant, mentor, or volunteer on our EventBrite page or subscribe to our mailing list below.